China calls Taiwan presidential frontrunner ‘destroyer of peace’

TAIPEI, Taiwan — China has slammed Taiwan presidential front-runner William Lai as a “destroyer of peace” following a televised debate on Saturday in which he defended Taiwan’s right to rule itself as a democracy. Chen Binhua, spokesman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said Lai’s discourse at the debate was “full of confrontational thinking.” He said … Read more

Taiwan’s presidential candidates emphasize peace in relations with Beijing

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s presidential candidates expressed desire for peaceful relations with Beijing, which has described Jan. 13 elections on the self-ruled island as a choice between war and peace and stepped up harassment of the territory it claims as own. William Lai, the frontrunner and currently Taiwan’s vice president from the ruling Democratic People’s … Read more

Indonesian Election Commission approves all three candidates for president

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia’s Election Commission announced Monday that it has approved all three presidential candidates for next February’s election, including a former special forces general whose vice-presidential running mate is the son of outgoing President Joko Widodo. The commission said all of the candidates had passed the legal requirements. Last month, the Constitutional Court … Read more